Top 100 Soul/R&B Songs
#70: Sade 'Stronger Than Pride'
When Sade debuted in 1984 with their instant classic Diamond Life, theirs was a sound and look that was unlike anything in the musical landscape at that time. They were instantly labeled a jazz band, but it many have been the ethereal beauty and otherworldly voice of its frontwoman Helen Folasade Adu (or Sade for short) that made this band have such crossover appeal. Prior to "Stronger Than Pride" from their 1988 album of the same name, their biggest hit was "Sweetest Taboo." Back in these days, eons of time did not have to pass in between Sade albums, so when "Stronger Than Pride" dropped, it was the balm that the people, after being victimized by the "Me Decade" and Reganomics so desperately needed. If you had never experienced falling in love prior to hearing this song, it did not diminish your liking of it. It only meant that once you had experienced the tribulation of loving and had lost, your understanding of the words "I can't hate you/ Though I have tried/ I still really, really love you/ Love is stronger than pride" mean that much more. Sade went on a four-year hiatus before giving us Love Deluxe, but thankfully they gave us this song as well as others on Stronger Than Pride to provide the music for all those times when we loved, lost, and yearned for more.Tags: helen folasade adu, sade
Comments
Love Sade. Some of most beautiful music I've ever heard has come from her and her band. Cherish the Day and Kiss of Life are equally as beautiful.
0731 | May 13, 2008 3:26 PM | Permalinkblasphemy indeed, Ms. Thang.
fortunately you have amassed a lot of good will equityso I'll let it slide... THIS TIME.
DJStylus | May 13, 2008 10:16 AM | PermalinkI have been waiting on her like I've been waiting on Maxwell to drop another album for years. I have a Sade Live DVD, that I watch gotta light the incense and burn some candles while its on. How much longer are we gonna have to wait Sade?
jhayott | May 13, 2008 9:20 AM | PermalinkOne of the biggest shocks I got when I lived in London was to find out that Sade was considered a marginal talent. I believe a British writer commented that in the US Black people put her in the status of a Marvin Gaye [exaulted] and Brits found it amusing. Well I definitely loved all of Sade's albums and found it amusng that she always had white men as her love interest in the video but Black people didn't hold it against her. There's this amazing book titled, "The Soulful Divas", where Anita Baker was interviewed and said Sade's success paved the way for her to get her major label deal. I managed to finagle my way backstage during her last tour and though I didn't get to meet her hung out with the touring musicians and they only had nice things to say about her.
sfsinger | May 13, 2008 9:12 AM | PermalinkI love this countdown. :)
Will | May 12, 2008 10:38 PM | PermalinkProbably blasphemy but I'm not a huge Sade fan and this wouldn't be one of my faves from her if I had to choose.
Probably would be "is It A Crime," "By Your Side," or "Your Love Is King."
Just had to say your write-up makes me wanna like it :)
Vivrant Thang | May 12, 2008 8:50 PM | Permalink